AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn women’s basketball team defeated Georgia 67-49 Monday night at Neville Arena. Honesty Scott-Grayson led the Tigers with 21 points.
The Tigers, now 14-6 (3-4), dominated the 10-10 (1-6) Lady Bulldogs on their way to a second straight win, their first in eight days. The story of the night was Auburn’s defense. The Tigers had 14 steals and four blocks and held Georgia to just 34% from the field. Auburn won the rebound battle as well, besting the Bulldogs 38-34.
Despite the great defense, Auburn shot just 39% from the field, their worst in a win this season. Honesty Scott-Grayson scored 21, including a flurry of three straight three-pointers right before halftime, and Taylen Collins added 13, nine of which came from the free throw line.
The Tigers came out on fire. “They were focused, they were ready to play,” said Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris after the game. Focused they were, leading the game wire to wire, and keeping the Bulldogs at arm’s reach for most of the contest.
The win came after an eight-day break following last week’s win over Alabama on DeWanna Bonner Day. Harris addressed the risks that come with long breaks.
“We took Monday off, and then we practiced on Tuesday and Wednesday. We took Thursday off and then practiced Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, getting ready for today. So that was a little different.”
The break had the Tigers well-rested, and it certainly showed. The intensity, effort, and defensive pressure was dialed up, and that was ultimately the difference. Auburn took nine more shots than Georgia stemming from four more offensive rebounds and six less turnovers.
Taylen Collins’s 13 points was a high for her in conference play.
“I was feeling good,” Collins said. “I was just doing whatever I could try to find the gaps and get in their zone as best I could.”
Monday’s win was the Tigers’ second straight against a major rival, but Collins says that does not affect the preparation.
“We’re just taking each team, each game day by day.”
Auburn dominated Georgia across the board, leading every major statistical category except three-point and free throw percentage. They looked off at times in half-court sets, but made up for it on the break with 20 fast break points.
Kaitlyn Duhon left the game early in the third quarter, but returned quickly. She had nine points on only one miss from the field to go along with five rebounds in what was likely her best game of the season.
“I’m just knowing that everybody coming in here is trying to beat us,” Duhon said.
Indeed, everybody is coming in trying to win, as the Tigers’ focus turns to their game hosting South Carolina on Thursday night. The number one Gamecocks enter Neville Arena undefeated and looking for win number 20 on the season. Auburn will look to defend their 11-2 home court record Thursday night.
